Dunkin' Donuts is ramping up expansion plans in Houston and around the Lone Star State once again after signing several new franchise deals a few years ago. Canton, Massachusetts-based Dunkin' Brands Group Inc. (DNKN) could expand by about eight locations in Houston, according to a press release . Franchisee Anju Donuts is behind the new Houston locations, with additional Dunkin' Donuts slated for the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Houston and Beaumont.

Susquehanna's Pablo Zuanic and team note that Keurig's business in K-cups has been slowing ever since it was bought by JAB, a problem that could be solved in a very convoluted way by a Mondelez International (MDLZ)-Kraft Heinz (KHC) merger. Starbucks (SBUX) echoed the notion of a K-cup market slowdown at its seminar on Wednesday (and is guiding for its [consumer packaged goods, or CPG,] growth below recent trends), but it expects to increase its share of total CPG coffee to 20% from 15%.